Yoshikane's mother was an adopted daughter and granddaughter of Fujiwara no Suenori, and was a niece of mother of Yoritomo.
1157 (Hōgen 2, 5th month): Minamoto no Yoshiyasu died, and Yoshikane became the head of the Ashikaga clan.
About 1175–1180 (Angen, Jishō eras): He visited the capital Kyoto, and served princess Hachijyōin Akiko Naishinnō in her court as a court official Kurōdo (蔵人). Prince Mochihito who called for the revolt against Heike later was Princess Akiko's adopted son. Minamoto no Yukiie who conveyed the command of a prince to various places became her court's Kurōdo later, too.
1180 (Jishō 4): After Minamoto no Yoritomo raised an army against Heike in Izu Province, Yoshikane who had returned to AshikagaManor joined it soon afterwards.
1181 (Jishō 5, 2nd month): Yoshikane married a daughter of Hōjō Tokimasa, Tokiko by intermediation of Yoritomo and became the brother-in-law of him.[1]
1184 (Juei 3, 5th month): In the subjugation of the remnants of Minamoto no Yoshitaka, son of Minamoto no Yoshinaka, he distinguished himself on the field of battle.
1184 (Juei 3, 8th month – ): He joined Minamoto no Noriyori's forces, and took part in various battles in the West Japan and defeated Heike.
1189 (Bunji 5, 7th–9th month): In the Ōshū War, he served as one of the commanders of the Kamakura administration forces, and arrested a guardian of Fujiwara no Yasuhira.
1190 (Kenkyū 1, 1st–3rd month): In the Ōkawa Kanetō rebellion, he was appointed the commander in chief of the Kamakura administration forces, and subjugated the revolt.
1195 (Kenkyū 6, 3rd month): He became a Buddhist monk; and he took the name Gishō (義称).[1] He retreated to Kabasakidera temple in Ashikaga, Shimotsuke Province. It is said that this secluded life was to escape from political dispute.[3]
Yoritomo was appointed the Sei-i Taishōgun in 1192, plainly promoted the hindrance's exclusion for the establishment of own dictatorship. He has killed his relatives including his brother Noriyori, Yasuda Yoshisada and Yasuda Yoshisuke in successively.